Teach Less, Learn More
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Chenonceau:
Yup...agree. Drills cannot start before the child knows material well or else it will be 'force learning'.
Ultimately, because the content in school is so challenging and there is so much of it, children who do well need external coaching from people who CAN teach. Not all parents can teach and those who can't and try too much too early kill the child's interest in learning.ksi:
I have also known a couple of children trying to do Math that is much tougher than their level and the outcome is they dislike Math so much now even at their own level...the saying.... we reap what we sow holds true either way...... :evil:
One may not wanna TEACH from assessment books. Assessment Books and Top School Exams are drills. Drills can happen AFTER learning has taken place so that the process of learning stays pleasant. The duration of drills should be short and sharp. I only introduce drills 6 weeks before exams on material already learnt. Too many drills over too long a period of time kills interest. Parents can and should expose their kids to elements of Science, English, Chinese and Math in kindy but unless you are desperate (i.e., your child is in P5 and failing) then try to teach such content in a more unstructured and play sort of way. It will work better in the long run, I think.
A solid foundation is important for Math...so it's best to get Math assessment which are suitable for the child's level and not 'challenging' ones to drill. That is what I apply to son who is weak in Math this year (P5). -
Chenonceau:
Agree...my child cannot be drilled too...it will make her completely restless.
That was what my son's partner P the Prefect experienced. Her mom started her on Science Assessment books in Kindy. She HATES Science and would rather copy than do her Science homework.
Ultimately, because the content in school is so challenging and there is so much of it, children who do well need external coaching from people who CAN teach. Not all parents can teach and those who can't and try too much too early kill the child's interest in learning.
One may not wanna TEACH from assessment books. Assessment Books and Top School Exams are drills. Drills can happen AFTER learning has taken place so that the process of learning stays pleasant. The duration of drills should be short and sharp. I only introduce drills 6 weeks before exams on material already learnt. Too many drills over too long a period of time kills interest. Parents can and should expose their kids to elements of Science, English, Chinese and Math in kindy but unless you are desperate (i.e., your child is in P5 and failing) then try to teach such content in a more unstructured and play sort of way. It will work better in the long run, I think. -
phankao:
Teaching thru' play is ok, but drilling with P1 materials is a no no. Let your 2-year-old enjoy his babyhood and childhood.
Oooh, I am doing that p1 stuff with my 2yo. Hope it works in the long term!Pen88n:
Nowadays, some parents seem to want to \"push\" kids further by prepping them with more advance materials. I know of parents who send kids to P1 tuition classes when they are in K2, and making kids do P1 / 2 assessment books. In short to medium term, this yield good results (in terms of marks). .
Scared off by the older kids' experience liao.
I question if the kid has already learnt all the P1 materials, what is the kid gonna learn in class? And if the parent is so capable of teaching the advance materials to the kid, why bother to send the kid to school? Might as well home-school the kid who can then learn way in advance and not repeat what has been learnt and waste time in school! -
Pen88n:
Teaching thru' play is ok, but drilling with P1 materials is a no no. Let your 2-year-old enjoy his babyhood and childhood.
Oooh, I am doing that p1 stuff with my 2yo. Hope it works in the long term!phankao:
[quote=\"Pen88n\"]
Nowadays, some parents seem to want to \"push\" kids further by prepping them with more advance materials. I know of parents who send kids to P1 tuition classes when they are in K2, and making kids do P1 / 2 assessment books. In short to medium term, this yield good results (in terms of marks). . Scared off by the older kids' experience liao.
I question if the kid has already learnt all the P1 materials, what is the kid gonna learn in class? And if the parent is so capable of teaching the advance materials to the kid, why bother to send the kid to school? Might as well home-school the kid who can then learn way in advance and not repeat what has been learnt and waste time in school![/quote]Good question. I ask myself that question every day. -
If these parents teach their children P1 work even before start of school term, might as well home-school the kids since they think they are so capable. In sending them to school, this would deprive other kids of a place. Afterall, these kids have already been taught everything in P1. These parents would definitely not settle for any school in the first place.
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janet_lee88:
If these parents teach their children P1 work even before start of school term, might as well home-school the kids since they think they are so capable. In sending them to school, this would deprive other kids of a place. Afterall, these kids have already been taught everything in P1. These parents would definitely not settle for any school in the first place.
Not depriving. Pri schooling is compulsory by law, and homeschooling is discriminated by SG govt/MOE. So for parents like us, we really do not want to take the chance. -
Chenonceau:
Good question. I ask myself that question every day.[/quote]
Teaching thru' play is ok, but drilling with P1 materials is a no no. Let your 2-year-old enjoy his babyhood and childhood.Pen88n:
[quote=\"Pen88n\"]
Nowadays, some parents seem to want to \"push\" kids further by prepping them with more advance materials. I know of parents who send kids to P1 tuition classes when they are in K2, and making kids do P1 / 2 assessment books. In short to medium term, this yield good results (in terms of marks). .
I question if the kid has already learnt all the P1 materials, what is the kid gonna learn in class? And if the parent is so capable of teaching the advance materials to the kid, why bother to send the kid to school? Might as well home-school the kid who can then learn way in advance and not repeat what has been learnt and waste time in school!janet_lee88:
Frankly, I am also a little guilty of trying to teach ahead. However, I believe it really has to depend on the capability of the child.If these parents teach their children P1 work even before start of school term, might as well home-school the kids since they think they are so capable. In sending them to school, this would deprive other kids of a place. Afterall, these kids have already been taught everything in P1. These parents would definitely not settle for any school in the first place.
If these parents teach their children P1 work even before start of school term, might as well home-school the kids since they think they are so capable. In sending them to school, this would deprive other kids of a place. Afterall, these kids have already been taught everything in P1. These parents would definitely not settle for any school in the first place.
My DS is strong in Maths, he found it boring and losing interest doing all the 'easy' stuff. So for him, I will do 1 level up for him as he needs the challenge, he wants to be better. My DD quite Ok in Maths actually, but unlike the elder brother, she is just happy with being good enough now. While I know I can stretch her more, I didn't really do it....cos' I can see her getting tired. Guess I feel happy when I see her still jumping & playing happily, she has enough from school, I'll let her enjoy at the right pace, dun have to hasten it too much. Sometimes I wonder will I regret, I won't deny, I also hope she'll score HIGH....but for now, as long as she remains in her Band1, I can let go.
On homeschooling. IMO, it is a very difficult thing to do. It takes a lot of effort, dedication, committment as well as courage. I do not have any of those qualities mentioned, definitely not in that amount required. Sometimes, it's the learning style/personality of the child that is why the decision to homeschool, we will not know. Whichever way we choose (via SG school system or homeschooling), think just have to make sure it's for the good of the child and not just for score and dun burnt them out. I'm sure there is always a place for a child in our SG primary school, nobody will be deprived.
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cwc:
Frankly, I am also a little guilty of trying to teach ahead.
Haha... this is so funny 'cos me, I have spent 4 months in this year feeling guilty for NOT teaching ahead the Math syllabus even though he had requested for it last year. -
Agree with cwc...my son, now in sec 1, also loves maths. While preparing for his SA1 now, he will tell me he went & \"digged\" for maths qns (think S2/3 algebra) online to attempt. I was never really in favor of teaching ahead as I'm afraid he might get bored in class & not really focus...
But he assured us that he will only attempt qns (thou of a higher level) wh. he think is do-able ... I wish I could persuade him to spend more time on the other subjects, but tough... as interest is simply too strong to be curbed! So, guess I just need to go with his flow while keeping an eye that he doesn't neglect his other subjects ( too much)... :celebrate: -
I believe the key point we are discussing here is to look for the right symptoms in our children. If a child is not interested in own level work and still have to do PSLE stuff, that is far-fetched. If a child knows level work well and wants a bit of challenges, there is no harm exploring a step further as long as the adult knows what would stop the child ticking and refrain from venturing there.
My personal experience is that I have no one teaching me Math when I was young but I will venture anywhere on my own....so there was no push or pull from anyone, it was just my own world, own target. I am not sure if in the past textbooks were better designed but I could learn almost anything on my own from reading books from pri to sec. Not sure why kids these days need so much coaching. :? There are 2 observations I have of today's Math:
1. The language used is different and it tends to trip more than trick.
2. The marking is more regimented hence it stresses the children if they do not do according to prescribed method. It stifles the thinking process in some cases.
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